Undercurrent (1999)

Powerful

hyped garbage

A different way of telling a story

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Puerto Rico provides a bright and beautiful backdrop for this dark Film Noir thriller which gives a modern twist to this neglected but classic genre.Aside from a rather dark view of humanity, noir films rely on suspense, plot twists and relationships. This film cleverly utilizes all three.Knocked for being a rather wooden performer, Lamas is well cast as the stiff, almost emotionless lead, making a strength out of what would in other circumstances be a weakness and Brenda Strong is effectively evil and always hot.The plot has enough twists to keep from being predictable but builds slowly enough to keep from being confusing. The slowness of the story is counterbalanced and punctuated by action, violence and nudity.This isn't a kid's film but then again Film Noir probably isn't a kid's genre.

Mike Aguayo(Lamas) is a strange combination of naive friend and ex-cop,ex-con. He's got a good heart but he's a little weak on the moral issues. There is the friend(ex-partner) who is setting him up for the second time. There is the girl who loves him and the woman he is being paid to seduce but who he would willingly follow on his own without any kind of encouragement. In fact, the harder time she gives him the more he has to have her. But she is the one who has him just where she wants him. Thank God for a fair minded police detective with even better instincts who is willing to put himself on the line to find the truth! It would be wrong not to mention bedroom scenes with both women. I'm still trying to figure what it is they are doing in the first one!

As an avid fan of Lorenzo Lamas, I really enjoyed this movie. I liked the character he played and it wasn't over the top or over -acted. I thought they could have chosen a better female lead, however. I don't think Lorenzo fans will be disappointed.

I'm a big Lorenzo Lamas fan so I'm going to love anything he does. This picture was different from the kind of films he usually is in (macho action stuff). This was more like a twist and turn type thriller and I loved him in it. I thought the way the film was sold was very misleading however (it was sold like an action film). I was pleasantly surprised but think it was unfairly marketed. Other than the story I thought the picture really looked great. The director and cinematographer did a very nice job.